WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of people have gathered at a Senate office building to protest the Trump administration's policy on illegal border crossings and call for the reunification of families who had been separated.

Many protesters in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building wore foil blankets similar to those given to migrants housed at U.S. detention facilities.

Protesters loudly chanted "What do we want? Free families" and "This is what democracy looks like."

Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York joined the protesters. At one point, Merkley donned a foil sheet as he gave a TV interview.

Winnie Wong, political adviser for the liberal National Women's March, says the protest demonstrates "the energy we will need to see to at the ballot box in November."